Method and device for detecting at least a portion of the measuring gas component containing bound oxygen in a gas mixture

A method for detecting at least a portion of a measuring gas component containing bound oxygen in a gas mixture in a measuring gas chamber by detecting a portion of oxygen that is generated by a reduction of the measuring gas component containing the boundoxygen, in the presence of molecular oxygen, in a device, which includes at least one first pump cell, one reference cell, and one second pump cell, the method comprising:

• a) generating a first pump current in the first pump cell in such a way that transport of a first portion of oxygen ions takes place between the measuring gas chamber and surroundings of the device;
• b) applying a reference pump current to the reference cell in such a way that a second portion of the oxygen ions is transported into a reference gas chamber;
• c) decomposing the measuring gas component containing the bound oxygen by catalysis at an electrode of the second pump cell, as a result of which additional molecular oxygen is generated from the measuring gas component;
• and
• d) applying a second pump current to the second pump cell in such a way that a portion of further oxygen ions that are formed from the additional molecular oxygen is transported into the reference gas chamber, wherein a sum of currents formed from the reference pump current and from the second pump current is held constant.

A computer program which is configured for carrying out a method for detecting at least a portion of a measuring gas component containing hound oxygen in a gas mixture in a measuring gas chamber by detecting a portion of oxygen that is generated by a reduction of the measuring gas component containing the bound oxygen, in the presence of molecular oxygen, in a device, which includes at least one first pump cell, one reference cell, and one second pump cell, the method comprising:

• a) generating a first pump current in the first pump cell in such a way that transport of a first portion of oxygen ions takes place between the measuring gas chamber and surroundings of the device;
• b) applying a reference pump current to the reference cell in such a way that a second portion of the oxygen ions is transported into a reference gas chamber;
• c) decomposing the measuring gas component containing the bound oxygen by catalysis at an electrode of the second pump cell, as a result of which additional molecular oxygen is generated from the measuring gas component;
• and
• d) applying a second pump current to the second pump cell in such a way that a portion of further oxygen ions that are formed from the additional molecular oxygen is transported into the reference gas chamber, wherein a sum of currents formed from the reference pump current and from the second pump current is held constant.

An electronic memory medium on which a computer program is stored and which is configured for carrying out a method for detecting at least a portion of a measuring gas component containing bound oxygen in a gas mixture in a measuring gas chamber by detecting a portion of oxygen that is generated by a reduction of the measuring gas component containing the bound oxygen, in the presence of molecular oxygen, in a device, which includes at least one first pump cell, one reference cell, and one second pump cell, the method comprising:

• a) generating a first pump current in the first pump cell in such a way that transport of a first portion of oxygen ions takes place between the measuring gas chamber and surroundings of the device;
• b) applying a reference pump current to the reference cell in such a way that a second portion of the oxygen ions is transported into a reference gas chamber;
• c) decomposing the measuring gas component containing the hound oxygen by catalysis at an electrode of the second pump cell, as a result of which additional molecular oxygen is generated from the measuring gas component;
• and
• d) applying a second pump current to the second pump cell in such a way that a portion of further oxygen ions that are formed from the additional molecular oxygen is transported into the reference gas chamber, wherein a sum of currents formed from the reference pump current and from the second pump current is held constant.

A device for detecting at least a portion of a measuring gas component containing bound oxygen in a gas mixture in a measuring gas chamber by detecting a portion of oxygen that is generated by a reduction of the measuring gas component containing, the bound oxygen, in the presence of molecular oxygen, in the device, comprising:

• at least one first pump cell;
• a reference cell;
• a second pump cell;
• and
• an electronic control unit, including:
• at least one unit for at least one of detecting, setting, and regulating a value of at least one of a first pump current, a reference pump current, and a second pump current;
• and
• an electronic memory medium on which a computer program is stored and which is configured for carrying out a method for detecting at least a portion of a measuring gas component containing bound oxygen in a gas mixture in a measuring gas chamber by detecting a portion of oxygen that is generated by a reduction of the measuring gas component containing the bound oxygen, in the presence of molecular oxygen, in a device, which includes at least one first pump cell, one reference cell, and one second pump cell, the method comprising:
• a) generating a first pump current in the first pump cell in such a way that transport of a first portion of oxygen ions takes place between the measuring gas chamber and surroundings of the device;
• b) applying a reference pump current to the reference cell in such a way that a second portion of the oxygen ions is transported into a reference gas chamber;
• c) decomposing the measuring gas component containing the bound oxygen by catalysis at an electrode of the second pump cell, as a result of which additional